National Coir Mission to boost up sector

11 Feb '10

2 min read

With a view to develop Coir Industry, particularly the export-oriented production sector, the Centre is thinking over a proposal to establish a National Coir Mission, informed Mr. Dinsha J Patel, Union Minister of State for Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME), while speaking at the inaugural ceremony of two-day golden jubilee celebration of the Central Coir Research Institute(CCRI).

This will also encompass pilot schemes for different activities, including, collection of coconut husk and procurement of fibre as well as incentives to improve exports. Following agriculture, Coir industry is second in generating employment and comprises of more than 80 percent women workers.

In the 11th five-year plan, the centre had allocated Rs.2.82 billion for coir industry, which was more than double of Rs.1.15 billion the Centre had allocated in previous plan. Coir exports of the country were minimally impacted by the recession, last year, added the Minister.

He further said that these exports are likely to touch current year's target of Rs.7 billion, as per its ongoing performance.

The Minister handed over the technology of mobile fibre extraction machine to the National Coir Research and Management Institute of the Government of Kerala. This is the latest technology among the series of technologies formed by CCRI.

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